Australian Open Men’s Final Open Thread: Rafael Nadal v Stanislas Wawrinka
Posted by Staff on January 25th, 2014 @ 9:02 pm
The first men’s Grand Slam champion of 2014 will be crowned Sunday at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Rafael Nadal will bid for history trying to become the first man in the Open Era to win two career Grand Slams. A second Australian Open would also give Nadal 14 overall Slams equaling Pete Sampras and putting him just three behind Roger Federer’s record 17.
Stanislas Wawrinka faces the task of not …
China’s Na Rolls Cibulkova for 1st Australian Open Title
Posted by Staff on January 25th, 2014 @ 10:51 am
China’s Li Na became the oldest winner at the Australian Open on Saturday when she overcame some first-set nerves to evantually steamroll first-time Slam finalist Dominika Cibulkova 7-6(3), 6-0 in Melbourne.
“I’m not old!” said the 31 yearold. “But yeah, at the start of the tournament everyone was talking about age. I would like to say age is nothing. You can still win a Grand Slam. I’m pretty happy about my …
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka In The Australian Open Final, Who’s The Pick? Roger-Rafa Redux
Posted by Sean Randall on January 24th, 2014 @ 9:12 pm
Are we in for one final climatic surprise at the Australian Open this year? After an unprecedented run of upsets – both on the men’s and women’s side – anything is really possible, even though on paper the Rafael Nadal-Stan Wawrinka final appears to be a complete and utter mismatch.
But before I get there, let’s backup a day to the big showdown from Friday between GOAT rivals Rafa and Roger …
Australian Open Women’s Final Preview: Li Na v Dominika Cibulkova
Posted by Staff on January 24th, 2014 @ 8:24 pm
With tournament favorites Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka out of the way, we are left with a very surprising final between fourth-seeded and two-time finalist Li Na and No. 20 seed Dominika Cilbukova for the 2014 Australian Open women’s title.
WTA NOTES
No.4 seed Li Na has been the highest seed remaining since the semifinals. The last time an Australian Open final did not feature a Top 3 seed was 2008 – …
Roger Federer: Rafa Deserved It, He Was Better, But It’s Not Cool To Lose In Straights
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 24th, 2014 @ 7:52 am
It was another tough night for Roger Federer who lost in straight sets to longtime rival Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open semifinals.
Federer, who was seeking his third straight Top 10 win after victories over Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, couldn’t muster much against the World No.1
Federer has now lost 23 of 33 meetings against the Spaniard winning just two of 11 in Grand Slam play. And if Nadal beats …
Rafael Nadal: I’m Very Happy I Played My Best Match Of The Tournament Against Roger Tonight
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 24th, 2014 @ 7:43 am
In another incredible performance, Rafael Nadal blitzed rival Roger Federer 76, 63, 63 to advance to the Australian Open finals for a third time.
Showing no signs of blister issues apart from a trainer visit, Nadal saved some of his best tennis just for Federer, scorching forehand and backhand winners and serving well enough to avoid a single break point until the third set.
Nadal now leads Roger 23-10 in this head-to-head …
Australian Open SF Open Thread: Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal
Posted by Staff on January 23rd, 2014 @ 6:19 pm
The rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal resumes tonight Down Under in the Australian Open semifinals. The Spaniard has dominated Federer winning 22 of their 32 career meetings including 8 of 10 at the Grand Slam level.
Federer however has high hopes to break a recent 4-match losing streak to Rafa. After vintage victories over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray, the 32-year-old is playing better than ever with his new …
Stanislas Wawrinka: I Didn’t Expect To Make A Grand Slam Final In My Career, Tonight It’s Happening
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 23rd, 2014 @ 9:09 am
Congrats to Stanislas Wawrinka for reaching his first career Grand Slam final today after beating Tomas Berdych 63, 67(1), 76(3), 76(4) in the Australian Open semifinals.
Wawrinka has now won 11 of his last 12 Grand Slam matches and will now await the winner of Friday night’s mega Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer clash.
Stanislas has a bad losing record against both players, but he had also lost 14 straight to Novak Djokovic before …
Cibulkova, Li Na To Meet For First Australian Open Title On Saturday
Posted by Staff on January 23rd, 2014 @ 7:56 am
No. 20 seed Dominika Cilbulkova continued her fairytale run Thursday reaching her first career Grand Slam final after thumping a listless fifth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-2. Cibulkova, one of the shortest Grand Slam finalists in history at just 5-foot-3, will meet 2-time Australian Open runner-up Li Na in the Saturday final.
“I’m playing really, really well, giving 100% of what I’m capable to do on the court in the match,” Cibulkova …
Federer v Nadal, Berdych v Wawrinka; Australian Open SF Picks And Pans
Posted by Sean Randall on January 23rd, 2014 @ 12:22 am
The semifinals are set at the first Grand Slam of the tennis season. And if the Australian Open is the tone-setter for the rest of the season, we are in for one wild ride in 2014.
Gone is heavy favorite Novak Djokovic. Gone is 3-time finalist Andy Murray. And gone is one of my picks Juan Martin Del Potro who didn’t even make it to the first Friday!
But still standing are …
Women’s Australian Open Semifinals an Odd Group
Posted by Jeremy Davis on January 22nd, 2014 @ 3:40 pm
World No. 1 Serena Williams and top competitors Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova sit on the sidelines this week as the semifinals play out at the Australian Open, featuring the familiar, the new, and the hungry for respect.
Thursday in Melbourne square off the Chinese veteran and two-time Australian Open finalist against the Canadian rookie, and the scampering Pole who has never tasted Grand Slam title success against the likewise short, …
Roger Federer: It’s Been A Dream Run, I Hope I Can Keep It Going Against Rafa
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 22nd, 2014 @ 8:28 am
The Roger Federer resurgence continued Wednesday night at the Australian Open as the 32-year-old ousted Andy Murray 63, 64, 67(6), 63.
The victory moves Federer into his 11th straight Australian Open semifinal where he’ll face rival Rafael Nadal Friday night.
Federer came out ablaze rolling Murray in the first set. The Scot picked it up in the second then finally broke Federer when the Swiss tried to serve for the match at …
Rafael Nadal: The Blisters Don’t Hurt My Forehand, They Hurt My Serve
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 22nd, 2014 @ 7:57 am
Rafael Nadal needed another 20 minutes and an extra set to turn away his second straight “young gun” opponent Wednesday defeating Grigor Dimitrov 36, 76, 76, 62 in 3 hours, 37 minutes.
Nadal, who edged Kei Nishkori a round earlier, has now won all 10 matches this year and stands just six sets from an Open Era record second career Grand Slam.
But Nadal has been fighting some bad blisters that the …
Grigor Dimitrov: I’m A Bit Shattered, I Came Out Expecting Nothing Less Than To Win
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 22nd, 2014 @ 7:43 am
Grigor Dimitrov’s 2014 Australian Open ended today as the Bulgarian talent lost to World No. 1 Rafael Nadal 36, 76, 76, 62 in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
Dimitrov pushed Nadal in this their fourth meeting, again earning a set and even holding a set point in the third set tiebreak. But his upset bid fell just short against the 13-time Grand Slam champion.
Playing in his first career Slam …
Poll: Should Novak Djokovic Get Rid Of Boris Becker?
Posted by Staff on January 21st, 2014 @ 9:55 pm
After one event the new Novak Djokovic-Boris Becker partnership is already off to a rocky start. Under Becker’s direction, Djokovic suffered his earliest loss at a Grand Slam event in almost four years, and his multitude of streaks – 28 straight wins among them and three consecutive Australian Open titles – are now history.
Djokovic says it’s still early to judge Becker, but watching the German squirm with uneasiness last night …